June 7, 2021
Dear loyal patients:
I would like to personally thank you for choosing CopperMine Dental Studio as your preferred provider of dental services. I have been practicing dentistry for 27 years and our team continues to invest in countless hours of ongoing continuing education and training to provide you with the best and most advanced dental treatment. Dental care with a high level of customer service is at the forefront of our vision and core values and I truly hope your experience with our team is nothing but the best.
I am writing to let you know about a change in our participation status with Delta Dental. We have elected to become a non-restricted provider with Delta Dental beginning July 1, 2021. Non-restricted providers are also considered non-participating providers or out-of-network providers. Despite this change, we are pleased to inform you that you can continue to utilize your insurance benefits at our offices, and we will continue to submit your insurance claims for all dental treatment at CopperMine Dental Studio.
Our decision to become a “non-restricted provider” with Delta Dental was largely due to the difficulty we had with providing high-quality dentistry under their rules and regulations, as well as their decision to significantly reduce their reimbursement to all Arizona dentists in 2020. Because these changes interfere with our vision to provide quality dental care in today’s economic environment, changing our participation status with Delta Dental will ensure that we can provide the high-quality dental care you deserve. We believe in excellent clinical care and not policy-driven dental care advocated by Delta Dental. As a non-restricted provider, you may experience the following changes to your dental coverage at CopperMine Dental Studio:
- • Unlike most other insurance carriers, Delta Dental will no longer assign benefits to us as a non-restricted provider. This means that Delta Dental will send reimbursement checks and Explanation of Benefit Statements (EOBs) directly to you, the patient. Due to this Delta-specific regulation, you will be required to pay for all your dental services, in full, at the time of service at CopperMine Dental Studio. We also ask that you share your EOBs with us so we can continue to manage any available insurance benefits you may want to use in the future.
- • Delta Dental will likely send you a letter to encourage you to seek dental care at a participating provider. This letter will seem to state that you must see a network dentist. You are not required to see a network dentist. You are free to see any dentist you desire. As previously stated, we may continue to be your preferred dental provider and help you maximize your insurance benefits.
- • Delta Dental may reduce your benefits. While Delta Dental is a not-for-profit organization, this is an unfortunate, profit driven, business decision by Delta Dental to maximize their profit. They may not honor your choice to seek dental care with a non-restrictive dentist and Delta may reduce your benefits because of this.
While our views of Delta Dental may seem a bit negative, the truth is, we feel that Delta Dental is not on your side and is certainly not on the side of its participating providers. As such, as a non-restricted provider, we believe we will have total control over your treatment needs while still maximizing your insurance benefits.
On behalf of my entire team, we look forward to continue providing dental care to you and your family and we thank you for choosing us as your dental care providers. Despite the change in our participation status with Delta Dental, we will still be here to provide the dental services you deserve, and you will continue to receive any benefits Delta Dental offers.
Thank you for your time and attention and we look forward to seeing you during your next visit with us.
Sincerely,
Justin Dutton DMD
Principal